Sharpener for tweezers

ABSTRACT

The sharpener includes a generally conical body, a base upon which the body is mounted and a hollow head mounted over the body. A shaft extends beyond the body and into the head. A cutting disk with an abrasive surface is situated within the head and fixed to the shaft. A motor situated within the body is provided for rotating the shaft. The head has an opening though which tweezers may be received such that the tweezers may be sharpened by the rotation of the cutting disk. The debris created by the sharpening process is captured within the head. The motor is energized by connection with an electrical source through series connected pushbutton switches. The switches are located remotely, preferably on opposite sides of the body, to reduce the chance of accidental energization of the motor.

The present invention relates devices for sharpening tools and more particularly to an electrically driven device for sharpening the ends of tweezers using a rapidly rotating abrasive disk enclosed within a head member which protects the user from injury and retains the debris created during the sharpening process.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 CFR 1.97 AND 1.98

Many types of electrically driven tool sharpening devices are known in the art. However, none are specifically design for sharpening the ends of tweezers.

Sharpening tools employing a rapidly rotating abrasive disk have the potential of causing injury to the operator. It is therefore important that the operator be shielded from the abrasive disk during the sharpening operation. It is likewise important that the sharpening device have a means for preventing accidental actuation of the motor that drives the abrasive disk

Further, sharpening with a rotating abrasive disk creates debris. It is therefore important that the sharpening device be capable of capturing debris from the abrasive disk and retaining the debris until the debris can be properly disposed of.

It is, therefore, a prime object of the present invention to provide a sharpening device for tweezers.

It is another object to provide a sharpening device for tweezers employing a motor driven rapidly rotating abrasive disk.

It is another object to provide a sharpening device for tweezers wherein the rotating abrasive disk is enclosed to protect the operator from injury.

It is another object to provide a sharpening device for tweezers having means from preventing the accidental actuation of the drive motor.

It is another object to provide a sharpening device for tweezers wherein the accidental actuation prevention means includes remotely situated, series connected switches, both of which must be simultaneously actuated in order to energize the drive motor.

It is another object to provide a sharpening device for tweezers capable of capturing debris from the abrasive disk and retaining the debris until the debris can be properly disposed of.

It is another object to provide a sharpening device for tweezers with a removable head which isolates the abrasive disk from the operator and at the same time captures and retains the debris created during the sharpening process.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, the above objects are achieved by the present invention which relates to a sharpener for tweezers including a body, a base upon which the body is mounted and a head mounted over the body. A shaft extends beyond the body and into the head. Abrasive means is situated within the head and fixed to the shaft. A motor situated within the body is provided for rotating the shaft. The head has an opening though which tweezers may be received such that the tweezers may be sharpened by the abrasive means.

An electrical source, such as a battery, and switch means operably connecting the source to the motor means are provided. The switch means includes first and second switches connected in series. The first switch has first actuator accessible from the exterior of the body. The second switch has second actuator means accessible from the exterior of the body.

Preferably, the first actuator is located remotely from the second actuator. Most preferably, the second actuator is located on the opposite side of the body from the first actuator. Preferably, at least one of the first and second actuators is a pushbutton. Most preferably, both of the first and second actuators are pushbuttons.

The electrical source may be a battery located in the base. Alternatively, the source may include a plug adapted to be received in an electrical outlet and wire connecting the plug to the shaft rotating means.

The abrasive means includes a disk with an abrasive surface. The disk is aligned with the head opening.

Preferably, the head defines a hollow debris retaining compartment and is removably mounted on the body to permit the retained debris to be removed.

Preferably, the body is substantially conical and the head is substantially cylindrical.

Preferably, means are provided for removably mounting the head to the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

To these and to such other objects that may hereinafter appears, the present invention relates to a sharpener for tweezers as described in detail in the following specification and recited in the annexed claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of the sharpener of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sharpener of FIG. 1 with the base, front of the body, and head removed;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the sharpener of FIG. 1 showing the base, front of the body and head; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the electrical wiring for the motor energizing circuit including the pushbutton switches.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the invention comprises a generally conical body, generally designated A, a base, generally designated B, on which body A is mounted, and a head, generally designated C, which is mounted on body A.

As best seen in FIG. 3, base B includes a member 10, which defines a compartment 12 into which a battery pack 14 is received. Member 10 also forms the bottom of body A: A battery pack cover 16 is fixed to member 10 by screws 18 such that it can be removed to replace the battery. A sheet of foam 20 is interposed between over 16 and battery pack 14.

Body A is attached to base B by screws 15. screws 15 extend through openings in member 10 and into internally threaded parts 17 fixed to the interior of the body. The exterior surface of the body is provided with a series of spaced hollow parts 19 with openings situated to receive tweezers therein.

Body A consists of first and second body halves 22, 24 which together form a generally conically shaped enclosure for motor 26 As best seen in FIG. 2, body half 24 (and body half 22 (not seen in this figure)) are each provided with spaced inwardly extending walls having appropriately shaped cutouts to receive and mount motor 26 within the body.

The output shaft 36 of motor 26 is connected to a drive shaft 38 which has two sections, a small diameter section 38 a and a large diameter section 38 b. Shaft 36 is received within an opening within shaft section 38 a such that shaft 38 is rotated as output shaft 36 is rotated by motor 26.

A bearing 40 is received in a cylindrical opening in part 42 which is fixed to the exterior surface of top 44 of the body. Shaft 38 extends through bearing 40 and beyond part 42. A press ring 46 is received around part 42. A cutting disk 48 is mounted to the end of shaft section 38 b by a screw 50 so as to rotate with the shaft.

As best seen in FIG. 3, head C is generally cylindrical in shape and has a hollow interior defined by cylindrical wall 52. Wall 52 has an open bottom 54 and a closed top 56. Head C is removably mounted to body B by friction fitting wall 52 over press ring 46. Wall 52 is provided with an opening 58 which is adapted to receive the tweezers to be sharpened by contact with the rotating cutting disk 48. Head C acts as a cover to enclose the area in which the cutting disk is acting on the tweezers so as to prevent debris removed during sharpening from exiting the head.

FIG. 4 illustrates the electrical circuit connecting the battery pack 14 to motor 26. Two pushbutton type switches 60, 62, each having a actuator accessible from the exterior of body B, are connected in series between the battery and the motor such that when the actuators are simultaneously depressed, motor 26 is energized to rotate cutting disk 48. Both switches must be actuated at the same time to reduce the chance that the motor will be energized accidentally. Preferably, the switch actuators are spaced from each other, on opposite sides of the body such that they can be simultaneously depressed by the thumb and forefinger of the user, as the user grasps the body. A fuse 64 is preferable provided in the circuit, as well.

Instead of the battery pack, the sharpener motor may be energized by electrical current from an outlet. In that embodiment, a standard electrical plug is connected to the motor by a wire.

It will now be appreciated that the present invention relates to a sharpener for tweezers which includes a body, a base upon which the body is mounted and a hollow head mounted over the body. A shaft extends beyond the body and into the head. Abrasive means in the form of a cutting disk with an abrasive surface is situated within the head and fixed to the shaft. A motor situated within the body is provided for rotating the shaft. The head has an opening though which tweezers may be received such that the tweezers may be sharpened by the rotation of the abrasive means and the debris created by the sharpening process is captured within the head.

The motor is energized by connection with a battery or other electrical source through series connected pushbutton switches. The switches are located remotely, preferably on opposite sides of the body, to reduce the chance of accidental energization of the motor.

While only a single preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that many modifications and variations could be made thereto. It is intended to cover all of those modifications and variations which fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims. 

1. A sharpener for tweezers comprising a body, a base upon which said body is mounted and a hollow head mounted over said body, a shaft extending from said body and into said head, abrasive means situated within said head and fixed to said shaft, means situated within said body for rotating said shaft, said head comprising an opening though which tweezers may be received to be sharpened by said abrasive means.
 2. The sharpener of claim 1 further comprising an electrical source and switch means operably connecting said source to said shaft rotating means.
 3. The sharpener of claim 1 wherein said switch means comprises first and second switch means connected in series.
 4. The sharpener of claim 3 wherein said first switch means comprises first actuator means accessible from the exterior of said body.
 5. The sharpener of claim 4 wherein said second switch means comprises second actuator means accessible from the exterior of said body.
 6. The sharpener of claim 5 wherein said first actuator is located remotely from said second actuator.
 7. The sharpener of claim 5 wherein said second actuator is located on the opposite side of said body from said first actuator.
 8. The sharpener of claim 5 wherein at least one of said first and second actuators is a pushbutton.
 9. The sharpener of claim 5 wherein both of said first and second actuators are pushbuttons.
 10. The sharpener of claim 2 wherein said source comprises a battery located in said base.
 11. The sharpener of claim 1 wherein said abrasive means comprises a disk with an abrasive surface.
 12. The sharpener of claim 11 wherein said disk is aligned with said head opening.
 13. The sharpener of claim 1 further comprising means for mounting said head on said body.
 14. The sharpener of claim 1 further comprising means for removably mounting said head on said body. 